Loose-leaf binder



Oct. 13 1925- 1,557,279

R. M. VAN VALKENBURGH LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 15, 1924 Age )4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 13, 19 25.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

RICHARD M. VAN VALKENBURGH, or Kansas orrY, ivrissonnr, AssieNoR TO IRVING- rr'rr MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or KANSAS CITY, Mrssonnr, VA oonroRA'rroN OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed August15, 1924. Serial No. 732,315.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. VAN VALKENBURGI-I a citizen of the United States, residing "at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Inn provements in Loose-Leaf Binders,- of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to certain new, use

ful and highly desirable improvements in loose-leaf binders, and pertains especially to the post gripping and actuating means therefor located within the hollow "clamping member of a binder of the post type.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a post grip-ping means and actuating means therefor in which the parts may all be quickly assembled into a unit before inserting into the hollow clamping member.

. A further object of theiinventi-on is to provide means for actuating the gripping plates which is positive in its action of locking and unlocking the binder. and which maintains pressure on the gripping plates at all times.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a supporting means for the working parts of the binder which perm-its of assembling said parts before inserting "to the working position.

An even'further object of the invention is to provide means for locking and unlocking post binders of this type that is exceedingly easy to assemble, hasbut few parts, will not get out of order after once assembled, and forms a structure of great strength and durability.

Further and other objects will be later set forth and manifested in the course of the following description.

In the drawingsi Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a loose-leaf clamping member with the in vention in place and used in connection with an ordinary post binder.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same taken on line IIII of Fig. 1 V

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the invention, similar to Fig. 1, showing the device in both the locked and unlocked positions.

Fig. l is a cross section of the same taken on line IV-IV of Fig. :3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the working parts of the invention with the actuatwith a binder of theordinary post type having a clamping member 7 to which posts 8 are rigidly attached.

The leaves 9 are placed on posts 8 inthe ordinary manner, and hollow clamping member 10, which contains the securing means, is then positioned by causing posts 8 to enter apertures 11 provided for that purpose. After pressing member 1-0 against leaves 9, gripping plates 12, having perforations 13, clutch posts 8 in the manner shown to preclude its removal until plates 12 are released. a

To accomplish this action and result :in the most desirable way and with the minimum number of parts, as well 'as'to allow quick assembling before inserting to theworking position; a channel 14:; preferably formed of sheet metal, may be cut substantially the length of member 10 and notched near the ends HSJHJD 15 to form means for pivotally supporting the gripping plates 12, which are provided with oppositely disposed lugs 16 for engaging inotches'15. When the assembled unit isinserted into hollow clamping member 10, lugs 1 6 are confined and positively retained in notches 15 by the upper wall of member. 10, which is in contact with the upper edges of the side walls of channel .14 throughout its entire length.

These gripping plates 12 have an inclined portion 17 through which pass perforation .13 which alines with hole 18 to allow the unobstructed passage'of post 8. Lugs 16 ends notched or bifurcated as at 20 to strad" dle posts 8. A button 21, ri idly attached near the center and passing upwardly through member 10 is employed by the operator to impart reciprocating motion to releasing member 19 when operating the device. Pressure is always exerted upon plate 12, since member 19 must be depressed to enter clamping member 10, always to be maintained in this condition with its central portion in sliding contact with the inner surface of said member 10. A guide or stop lug 22 is pressed from releasing member 19 which rests against one of the grip ping plates 12 (Fig. 3.)

Operation.

To assemble the device, channel 1 1 is first fitted with gripping plates 12, as illustrated in Fig. 5, releasing member 19 is placed with its bifurcated ends bearing upon the face of plates 12 and lug 22 resting against the end of one. After depressing member 19, the device may be inserted into hollow clamping member 10 until holes 18 and 18 register with holes 11. Button 21 is inserted and riveted through openings 23, left for that purpose, after which the channel may be riveted or welded to member 10 to secure the unit in place and against slipping.

'When first inserted the members are in the locked position as shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and when posts 8 are gripped by plates 12, member 19 retains a pressure which is positive and most effective. To release the grip, it is only necessary to slide releasing member 19 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This movement removes the downward pressure exerted by the ends of the releasing memher from inclined portion 17 of plates 12 and places it back of the pivotal point formed by lugs 16, an operation which snaps inclined portion 17 of plates 12 up to a substantially horizontal position with its edges in engagement with the inner surface of member 10, as shown in Fig. 6. The device may now be withdrawn from the posts.

I claim:

1. In a loose-leaf binder, a pair of leafholding posts, a hollow clamping member provided with apertures for receiving the posts, post-gripping plates mounted within said hollow clamping member and actuating means for slidably engaging said gripping plates, said actuating means having a pressed out lug adjacent one end and engaging an edge of one of said gripping plates for retaining said actuating means in position during assembling, substantially as set forth.

2. In a post-gripping means for a looseleaf binder, adapted to be inserted as a unit in the hollow clamping member thereof,

comprising a channel having notches in its side walls, post-gripping plates mounted in said notches and an actuator for said gripping plates, said channel having the upper edges of its side walls in contact with the upper wall of said clamping member for the purpose set forth.

3. In a post-gripping means for a looseleaf binder, adapted to be inserted as a unit in the hollow clamping member thereof, comprising a channel having notches in its side walls, post-gripping plates having outwardly extending lugs pivotally seated in said notches with the bodyportion thereof confined between the said walls of said channel and an actuator for said gripping plates, said channel having the upper edges of each side wall in contact with said hol low clamping member for maintaining said gripping plate lugs in their seated position.

4. In a loose-leaf binder, a pair of leafholdin-g posts, a hollow clamping member provided with apertures for receiving the posts, a channel having holes registering with said apertures and notches in the side walls at the top thereof, gripping plates provided with a hole concentric with said channel hole and clamping member aperture and having lugs seated in said notches and actuating means for said gripping plates having an assembling lug, said notches being closed at the top to confine said gripping plate lug by the upper wall of said hollow clamping member. I

5. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a pair of leaf-holding posts and a hollow clamping member provided with apertures for receiving said posts, of a post-gripping means, an actuator therefor and means for supporting said gripping and actuating means in their related position before inserting the same into said hollow clamping member.

6. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a pair of leaf-holding posts and a hollow clamping member provided with apertures for receiving said posts, of a perforated gripping means for each post, an actuator therefor and means for assembling the same into their related position before inserting the same into said hollow clamping member comprising a channel having holes in the base and notches in the side walls thereof, said notches adapted to hold each post-gripping means with its perforation concentric with the holes in said channel base.

7. In a loose-leaf hinder, the combination with a pair of leaf-holding posts and a hollow clamping member provided with apertures for receiving said posts, of a perforated gripping means for each post having horizontally disposed lugs projecting from the sides thereof, an actuator for said gripping means havlng a downwardly extending assembling lug for engaging one of said grip ping means, and means for assembling the same into operative relation before inserting the same into said hollow clamping member, comprising a channel having holes in the base and notches in the side walls thereof, the lugs of said gripping means being seated in said notches and confined therein by the walls of said hollow clamping member when said channel is inserted therein to a point where the holes of said channel and the gripping means perforation are concentric with said clamping member apertures.

8. In a loose-leaf hinder, the combination with a pair of leaf-holding posts, a hollow clamping member provided with apertures for receiving said posts, a perforated gripping means for each post and an actuator therefor having a downwardly extending assembling lug, of means for supporting said gripping means and actuator in operative position comprising a channel having holes in the base and notches in the side Walls thereof, whereby said gripping member and actuator is completely assembled before inserting the same into said hollow clamping member.

9. An assembling unit 'for post-gripping and actuating means, for loose-leaf binders having a hollow clamping member, com prising a channel of a length equal to the length of said hollow clamping member and having holes in the bottom thereof, means carried by the side walls of said channel for pivotally supporting a post-gripping plate,

said channel adapted to slid-e into said hollow clamping member and carry said post-gripping plate into operative position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day ofAugust,192 l.

RICHARD M. VAN VALKENBURGH. 

